Altria Group (NYSE:MO) Shares Down 2.8% – Should You Sell?

Shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) dropped 2.8% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $65.05 and last traded at $65.0920. Approximately 9,306,462 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 7% from the average daily volume of 9,979,536 shares. The stock had previously closed at $66.97.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Altria Group from $47.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 4th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Altria Group from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 30th. Argus upgraded shares of Altria Group to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 13th. Barclays lifted their target price on Altria Group from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $57.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, February 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $65.11.

Altria Group Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $108.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.45. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $64.68 and its 200-day moving average price is $62.59.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.32 by ($0.02). Altria Group had a net margin of 29.84% and a negative return on equity of 287.61%. The business’s revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.30 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 25th will be issued a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 25th. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.5%. Altria Group’s dividend payout ratio is currently 103.16%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Altria Group

In related news, SVP Charles N. Whitaker sold 27,908 shares of Altria Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.57, for a total transaction of $1,885,743.56. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 180,869 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $12,221,318.33. This trade represents a 13.37% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in MO. Darwin Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Altria Group during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Navalign LLC purchased a new stake in Altria Group in the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Country Trust Bank lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 400.0% during the second quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 500 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. EMC Capital Management bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the third quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Creative Capital Management Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Altria Group during the fourth quarter valued at $29,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 57.41% of the company’s stock.

Altria Group Company Profile

Altria Group, Inc (NYSE: MO) is a U.S.-based consumer goods company whose principal business is the manufacture and sale of tobacco products. Headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, the company’s operations are focused primarily on the U.S. market and include the production, marketing and distribution of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars. Its flagship cigarette franchise in the United States is sold through its operating subsidiaries and is among the most recognizable cigarette brands in the country.

Altria’s principal operating businesses include Philip Morris USA (cigarettes), U.S.